There are several types of coronavirus lawsuits that you may possibly file in the wake of the first wave of coronavirus cases. Some of them include:
- Lawsuits against airlines
- Lawsuits against healthcare companies
- Lawsuits against local or state governments
- Lawsuits against a business if you are a shareholder
- Lawsuits against cruise lines
Cruise ship lawsuits may be one of the more straightforward types of cases, as a few different cruise lines engaged in what seems to be clear-cut negligence that resulted in widespread sickness and death.
Coronavirus Negligence May Originate With Cruise Ships
It is now clear that coronavirus has impacted virtually all sectors of the American economy, including:
- Restaurants and bars
- Trade professions
- Specialized, non-big box retail
- Hotels and hospitality
- Tourism
- A wide array of small businesses
As coronavirus’ impact has broadened, there has been a corresponding growth in the number of parties guilty of negligence, and therefore a greater number of justified lawsuits, per The Washington Post. Some of the first entities to face the full weight of coronavirus were cruise ships, and they were also some of the first businesses to mishandle the virus in a significant way.
Now that months have passed since some of the most catastrophic coronavirus outbreaks on cruise ships, those affected may be getting around to exploring their legal options for negligence that befell them.
Some Major Cruise Lines Were Utterly Unprepared for Coronavirus
Once news began to reach passengers and crew members aboard coronavirus-affected ships that a possible outbreak was afoot, the extent to which certain cruise lines were completely unprepared for a viral outbreak became clear. Allegations against cruise lines include that:
- They did not have adequate safety gear, including masks and gloves, available for their crew members. As a result, crew members on the likes of Costa Cruises’ Costa Luminosa were forced to wear napkins over their faces, according to The New York Times an insufficient measure that protects neither the crew nor passengers they interact with.
- They knew of previous cases of passengers departing a ship with symptoms of a serious illness, yet continued to board new passengers and allow passengers who shared the ship with the ill individuals to stay aboard. This was the scenario that unfolded aboard Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess, according to USA Today.
- They knew of previous outbreaks on other ships, yet did not make fundamental changes in how they deployed safety measures, such as cancelling voyages to avoid outbreaks.
- Ships such as the Diamond Princess were not cleaned nearly as extensively as they should have been considering the emerging threat of coronavirus (or considering basic safety practices), according to USA Today.
The crux of coronavirus lawsuits against cruise lines is that:
- Cruise lines failed to prepare properly for a potential viral outbreak
- Cruise lines failed to disclose fully to passengers and crew members the threat of coronavirus infection that they faced by stepping aboard the ship
- Cruise lines failed to react in a prompt fashion when the threat of an active coronavirus outbreak emerged
- Because of these allegations, numerous cruise lines were negligent and are therefore liable for infections, deaths, and the general risk to health that faced cruise passengers and crew
If you believe that these sort of failures—or other forms of negligence related to cruise ships and coronavirus—impacted you or a loved one, then you may be able to join a mass lawsuit or bring an individual lawsuit of your own.
Know How a Lawyer May Guide Your Coronavirus Lawsuit
A lawyer may be able to assist you, whether you are considering legal action against a cruise line, healthcare company, business, or other party that you believe acted negligently with respect to the coronavirus. A party could be guilty of negligence if they:
- Took action, or failed to take action, in a way that exposed you or a loved one to possible coronavirus infection
- Should have known that their actions would put you or your loved one at risk
- Ultimately caused some form of harm to your or your loved one
A lawyer or their team may be able to listen to your account of events and provide feedback about:
- Whether you have grounds to join or bring a lawsuit
- Who may be at fault for your losses
- What the next steps in the legal process are
Should you choose to move forward with the help of a lawyer, they may handle all of the legal aspects of your lawsuit from start to finish. If you win your lawsuit or obtain a settlement, you may receive awards covering:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Other losses caused by the negligence of defendants named in your lawsuit
Call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Today
Our team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers has a direct personal connection to a cruise ship coronavirus outbreak, and we are currently representing clients against cruise lines. If you would like to learn more about how we may assist you in a coronavirus-related lawsuit, call our team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today at (855) 529-0269 for a free consultation.
